State, shot a 63 on his way to winning the first of two consecutive Lexus Clas- sic titles. That 9-under remains the of- ficial club record—and a source of pride as Watney establishes himself as one of the top Americans on the PGA Tour via a win at the World Golf Champion- ship event at Doral in March. Some longtime members recall the time in 1953 when Byron Nelson and his 22-year-old protégé, Ken Venturi, came to Sunnyside to play pro club Dave Martin and top amateur Charlie Seaver as a fundraiser for local charity. Throughout its history, Sunnyside has hosted local, regional, statewide and national tournaments including the California State Open in 1940-42 and ‘55 and the 1981 U.S. Golf Association Junior Amateur. The USGA connec- tion will continue in August when the club hosts 36-hole sectional qualifying for the U.S. Amateur.

This summer’s Pro-Scratch will be the 41st in a series that has featured such competitors as Venturi, George Archer, Craig Stadler, Bob Rosburg, Jim Colbert, J.C. Snead, Jerry Heard, Al Geiberger, Bill Glasson, Loren Roberts, Peter Oosterhuis, John Brodie, Bobby Clampett and Tim Norris. But all those events paint just part of the picture. What Menchinella is most proud of is Sunnyside’s family atmosphere and congeniality. He says that attitude is fostered by a policy of not giving out advance tee times. “I’m a believer that we have the

friendliest membership of any club,” he said. “Longtime members play with new members, seniors play with juniors, good players will play with young kids just coming up. “When you don’t give starting times

it doesn’t promote cliques. You don’t have to have a [scheduled] game to play here. Just show up, we’ll get you a game.” A hundred years and counting,

Sunnyside Country Club still has game.

Ken Robison covered golf for the Fresno Bee for many years before his retirement in 2009.

EXPERIENCE IT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ROPE Play Chambers Bay, site of the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open

The U.S. Open is coming to the Pacifi c Northwest for the fi rst time in history. Play the course that’s bringing it here. At Chambers Bay you will experience pure links golf while taking in incredible panoramic views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. It’s a public access course designed to be enjoyed by players of every ability, and waiting just for you.